Nandigram incident impacts CPI(M)

Kolkata, Mar 19 (UNI) The Nandigram incident took its toll on the CPI(M) today as 50 members of the party's frontal organisation among the State Government employees resigned ''responding to the call of conscience''.

'' We have resigned because we do not want to be a part of any organisation where we cannot listen to our conscience, '' a spokesperson of the group that broke away from West Bengal Secretariat Employees' Association, a part of the all powerful West Bengal Government Employees Coordination Committee, told reporters.

The aggrieved employees had been at loggerheads with the union bosses after they wore black badges on March 15, a day after the Nandigram police firing, in protest against the incident.

'' The Coordination Committee leaders asked us not to put on black badges since such an act does not go with the stand of the organisation. But we said we were just responding to our conscience, '' the spokesperson added.

They severed ties with the organisation as the row turned bitter, he said.

To a question, the spokesperson said they had not decided yet on joining any other organisation.

UNI